RUSSIA: Russians celebrate the week-long festival of Maslenitsa, eating pancakes and burning effigies, before settling into the long Lenten fast
Record ID:
863022
RUSSIA: Russians celebrate the week-long festival of Maslenitsa, eating pancakes and burning effigies, before settling into the long Lenten fast
- Title: RUSSIA: Russians celebrate the week-long festival of Maslenitsa, eating pancakes and burning effigies, before settling into the long Lenten fast
- Date: 11th March 2013
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 11, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COOKS PREPARING PANCAKES, OR BLINI CHILDREN AT TABLE WATCHING COOKS PEOPLE WALKING DOWN PEDESTRIAN STREET WOMEN EATING BLINI AT TABLE PLATE FILLED WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF BLINI (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW RESIDENT VERA IVANOVA, SAYING: "We tried - look - sweet, tried them with meat and cheese, terrific blini. Now, of course, we as housewives think that we wouldn't lose face either (if we made the blinis)."
- Embargoed: 26th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- City:
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVABNMCUZMDHGHX7JFCS246VHNTC
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- Story Text: Muscovites on Monday (March 11) enjoyed day one of the traditional week-long carnival Maslenitsa, ushering in spring and leading to Russian Orthodox Lent.
Moscow residents of all ages were treated to a street fair along one of the city's central lanes, where professional chefs taught master classes on the perfect pancake, or "blini" - the traditional treat of the carnival.
Street performers entertained the pedestrians as little huts placed on the cobble-stone lane especially for the week churned out 35 different types of blini.
"We tried - look - sweet, tried them with meat and cheese, terrific blini. Now, of course, we as housewives think that we wouldn't lose face either (if we made the blinis)," said Vera, who waved a fork in the air.
Effigies lined the street, dressed as "Lady Maslenitsa" in Russian folk costume. The effigies will be burned later in the week to symbolise spring-like renewal after death. The blini represent the sun of spring.
Later in the week, the street will host performances and concerts as well as other entertainment.
Professional musician Andrei Zvonar, who rang bells at the street festival, said the traditions varied among Russians.
"Maslenitsa is a joy for people. It's expressed in different ways, because the Russians have a wide soul. They can beat each others' faces out of joy, eat blini and sled over the hills," Zvonar said.
Diana said the festival gave her a warm feeling.
"It's the farewell to winter, the hello to spring - a family holiday in my mind," she said.
Maslenitsa week began as a pagan ritual and has since been absorbed into the Russian Orthodox Christian tradition. As a part of pre-Lenten celebrations, the bounty of Maslenitsa week prepares the devout for their upcoming fast when meat and dairy would traditionally be forbidden.
The name of the festival has its roots in the Russian word for butter, "maslo", and for Russians, Maslenitsa is a time for feasting. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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